Hugh Message

We greet you and send you this little update from Alexandria, Egypt. It’s humbling to be in this city which history credits the disciple Mark with having established the first Christian church in the 1^st century, and which is also recognized as the birth place of Apollos (Acts 18:24). We have just finished the ministry in Lebanon and are now in Egypt for our final days on this Middle East excursion. The Lord has been very faithful to watch over and keep us safe. We thank you for your many prayers on our behalf. It’s a privilege to share this brief report with you as co-labourers together with us in the ministry in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt.

The mix of different religions in these parts is certainly unique. In Lebanon, the tensions between the various sects of Islam and the Christian communities of ancient Maronite and Catholics contributed to create an air of distrust and hatred. In spite of the legacy of one of Lebanon’s renowned citizens in the bible - the Canaanite woman of Matt. 15:21-28, (…truth Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs…) whose daughter Jesus healed, it is abundantly evident that her living faith has all but disappeared over the centuries. Among the majority of Muslims, some evangelicals are found. The majority of the Christian community here though is merely a skeleton of religious rites and traditions bound up in the sepulchers of the ancient Maronite and Catholic churches.

As a result of 35 years of war, virtually everyone we met spoke of some relative in their family who had been killed. This included Brother Anton’s own father. The radical elements of Hezbollah (the militant arm of Islam) continue to demonstrate in the streets calling for the resignation of the elected government. It was not unusual as we traveled, to see military patrols, tanks and soldiers in the streets attempting to keep a lid on the cauldron of emotions which seem ready to boil over at any moment.

In spite of all the hardships and despair, it is in this kind of environment that the Gospel brings the greatest hope. We were eye witnesses to this on several occasions. One event was when the Spirit of the Lord moved supernaturally in a bible study with some of Brother Anton’s family. It was a miraculous turnaround from an evening that began with a great deal of tension. As we endeavored to present the gospel, some men present vented their frustrations and hatred towards the Muslims which they attributed as the source of war and strife in their country. (They even showed me an M16 in the closet!) To them, Muslims were not only enemies of the “faith”, but the “cancer” that was destroying their country. Since Muslims fought with guns and bombs – they too needed to respond in kind.

If ever I have witnessed the power of being a “creator” of a different atmosphere by the words that were spoken – it was this night! It was truly amazing to see the sweetness of the Holy Spirit descend at the preaching of the Word and melt these hardened hearts. Two of those same young men who were ready to take up arms, bowed humbly to receive the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ when presented with the opportunity at the preaching of His Word. They spoke to us after that; “January 14, 2007 is a night we will always cherish and remember!”

There were many notable events, but one especially outstanding event was when we visited a friend of Brother Anton’s who was diagnosed with cancer. We arrived to find a very sick, jaundiced looking man. He made no attempt to even rise up off his bed at our arrival. We ministered the Word to him to build up faith, showing the photo of the pillar of fire over the Prophet. We expounded from the Word about the Messenger sent in this day whose prayer of faith was able to overcome even cancer. Holding a prayer cloth in my hands that Brother Branham had prayed over, Acts 19 was read where miracles were wrought when clothes were taken from the body of Paul. On a return visit several days later, Ibrahim testified how at the very instant that the prayer cloth was applied and the prayer of healing made, that he felt a heat coursing through his body. He confessed that he felt something come into him, a joy and peace he had never known and he began to feel better immediately. Through this his family, two nieces, his sister, and a visiting friend, Rami, all surrendered their hearts to the Lord. We prayed with them to receive Christ. Later in the day he even got up and was walking around. How wonderful it was to see the Lord confirm the Truth of His Word.

This of course incited a great curiosity and hunger among Ibrahim’s family for more of the Word of God. This gave us a good opportunity to speak further about the purchase of redemption. I emphasized that while it is wonderful to be healed, ones’ soul is what needs the greatest healing. All those present were greatly affected and had a great desire to follow on deeper in the Word. We prayed with several to receive Christ. Rami, the interpreter, also promised to take time to read the bible with the family and also portions of the Exposition of the Church Age book (he would translate) every day to continue to build up their faith. Confident in the promise of Isa. 55:11 that “…my word …shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it; we are assured that these are the small, but very important beginnings of the final days of the Gentiles in the very place where the Gospel was first preached.

In addition to these visits with Brother Anton’s friends and family, we also followed a pattern established by the Apostle Paul where he visited the established “churches” of the day (synagogues) and spoke the Message of further revealed Truth. Believing that as some of the “chief rulers” (Crispus and Sothenes of Acts 18 & 1 Cor 1:1) received the truth, that those to whom we spoke would in like manner receive the truth as they did in Paul’s day. We boldly spoke with Pastors in established churches. On Sunday in Tripoli, I preached about the Baptism of the Holy Ghost in a Presbyterian church. Pastor Bitar was also glad to receive a Church Age book upon learning of the source of the message that was spoken. We had several good opportunities to share the Message with other pastors too in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and also now in Egypt. Placing the day in which we live according to the scriptures, helped many to understand why Christ was found outside the “cinema” church of Laodecia. By this foundation, the introduction of the Messenger of this day and the time of the Lord’s coming was established.

As always, it is difficult to say goodbye. Much more time is needed and could be spent in these parts. We were eyewitnesses to a great hunger for truth, not only among those of a traditional church background, but also among some of the Muslims Brother Anton had the opportunity to witness to. The gospel of Jesus Christ with the virtues of a God of love, mercy and forgiveness – is such a great contrast to Islam with attributes of a legalistic spirituality and forced morals. Knowing that the love of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can bring true lasting happiness and peace in the midst of strife and turmoil, these lands are certainly “ripe” for the restoration of the original gospel of love. By God’s grace and your prayers, this ministry excursion in the Middle East will indeed hasten the coming of our Lord.

With only a few tracts translated into Arabic, the need for follow up with the Message translated and printed in Arabic is certainly great. We’ve done what we could to speak the Message of restored truth. Books have also been given out, and so the same Message Paul and the Apostles preached is once again being heard in these lands. Several competent people including ministers were approached concerning the possibilities of translating the Message into Arabic. Now we must pray that the Lord of the Harvest will continue, not only to “water” the Seed of His Word that has been spoken in these parts, but also to raise up more labourers in this, the final chapter of the Gentile dispensation.

Thank you all again for your prayers and support. May the Lord richly bless you.

Brother Tony

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